Employer University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site RSCH/PRH Town Brighton Salary £55,690 - £62,682 Per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 29/03/2026 23:59
Lead Advanced Pharmacist - Women's Services RSCH/PRH
At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere for our patients, our people and our communities. Whatever your role here at UHSussex you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us deliver Excellent Care Everywhere. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We value compassion, inclusion and respect as our core values. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance – because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form: https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Lead Advanced Pharmacist – Women’s Services to join the Pharmacy team at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. This is a new role for the Trust, developed to strengthen specialist pharmacy leadership and governance across Women’s Services
This senior clinical leadership post provides expert pharmacy input across maternity, gynaecology, maternal medicine and neonatal interfaces, working across designated hospital sites within the Trust. The post holder will lead the planning, delivery, development and governance of Women’s Services pharmacy provision, ensuring safe, effective and equitable use of medicines for women, pregnant people and neonates.
Women’s Services use a wide range of specialist medicines during pregnancy, the postnatal period, breastfeeding and neonatal care. This role provides advanced clinical leadership and independent prescribing expertise to support medicines optimisation, patient safety, regulatory compliance and service resilience, in line with national guidance and Trust priorities.
The post holder will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, regional and national networks, commissioners and external partners, and will play a key role in medicines governance, quality improvement, workforce development and cross-site standardisation. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced senior pharmacist to establish, shape and lead a new specialist role within a large, complex and forward-looking Trust.
Main duties of the job
Establish and lead a specialist pharmacy role for Women’s Services, providing senior clinical leadership and acting as expert for medicines optimisation in maternity, gynaecology, maternal medicine and neonatal interfaces.
Provide advanced clinical pharmacy input across hospital sites, ensuring consistent pharmacy provision and cross site working.
Work as an independent prescriber, initiating, reviewing and optimising medicines within scope of practice, including high risk, unlicensed and specialist therapies in pregnancy, postnatal, breastfeeding and neonatal care.
Lead medicines governance for Women’s Services including prescribing verification, medicines reconciliation, incidents, audit and risk management.
Develop and implement clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways for medicines use across Women’s Services, aligned with national guidance.
Provide expert advice and leadership to MDTs including obstetric, gynaecology, maternal medicine, anaesthetic, midwifery and neonatal teams.
Lead service development and quality improvement using prescribing data and incident learning.
Support and develop pharmacy staff through supervision, education and workforce development.
Work with internal/external partners including primary care, community pharmacy, LMNS and commissioners.
Provide medicines optimisation and financial oversight including high cost medicines and budget monitoring.
Deputise for senior pharmacy colleagues to support service resilience.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role‑specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years’ experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.
If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.
Please see the Job Description for further details.
Person specification
* Registered as a Pharmacist with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
* Further specialist knowledge through post‑Diploma level training
* NMP
* Acute hospital pharmacy experience
* Experience managing use of medicine in pregnancy and breast feeding inquiries
* Guideline development, formulary submissions, or protocol reviews
* Member of the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacist Group (NPPG)/ +/- UKCPA Women’s Health
* Experience of working within women’s services
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Important information for applicants
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI‑generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early
In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working
If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks
As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa
Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigration eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications.
Further Information
For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email uhsussex.nursingteam@nhs.net.
For help with the application process for Non‑Nursing vacancies, please email uhsussex.nonnursingteam@nhs.net.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name David Annandale
Job title: Lead Pharmacist Women & Children
Email address: d.annandale@nhs.net
Telephone: 01273 696955 ext 63137
Feel free to message or call me on Teams if this is your preferred method of communication.
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